The Danger of a Single Story
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Current Arkansas history curriculum is really wonky (for lack of a better term). In sixth grade, learners in my district have a one semester course on World Civilizations and geography. Then over the next three years, they get Arkansas history and American history. Tenth grade is their first real interaction with world history. So over the course of one year, our goal is to teach them a ton of content on world history.
Our course starts at 1200 and covers European, East Asian, the Americas, African, South and Southeast Asian history. It covers political interactions and motivations, impacts on the environment, cultural practices and diffusions, economic systems and interactions, innovations and developments, and social structures. In all of these places. Starting in 1200 and lasting until modern times. And it's an AP class, (a first AP class for most of them) so we also have to teach them AP testing stuff, how to take notes, writing for the AP test vs. writing in other contents, Oh, and we read three to four whole class novels that connect to the content.
Why am I telling you all of this? Because the narratives for high school teachers is that we aren't really doing that much. Or that teachers are indoctrinating kids. Or that teachers are just sitting while kids run wild.
Then, there is this narrative that kids are underperforming. That kids aren't learning what they need to learn. That teachers aren't doing their jobs to help American kids catch up to their world competitors. I can't speak to every classroom in the U.S. I can only speak to my district.
The list of what we are expected to teach is long. And the resources, the time, the support... well, it just isn't there. And yet, we keep showing up. We keep working to do more, to teach more.
Every year, our AP World History and Advanced English II class begins with "The Danger of a Single Story." We talk about stereotypes, about cultural understanding, about asking questions, about engaging with people who are different from us. Our whole class is based around the idea that we are one story in a multitude. That when we can see multiple stories, we become more empathetic, kinder, more thoughtful people.
The world is sharing a single story with you about modern education. And when things don't go right (based on standards put in place by people who may or may not know what education actually looks like), teachers are the easiest to blame.
So, what can you do in this situation?
Talk to your kids about what they are learning. Reinforce it at home. Give them multiple perspectives. And, even when it's hard, guide them as they develop their own opinions instead of telling them what to believe. Support teachers. Read to your kids and with your kids. And when you can, support your teachers with your words. When you see single stories, remember that it is one story in a multitude.
Don't let the single story become your only story.
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